Everything will be fine, don't sweat the small stuff.

Sounds like a bit of buyers remorse........you'll love your MINI.

 

Go for It!

 

Thank you all for your comments and info. They helped tremendously.

This is a car that I've been dreaming of since I first saw it. I knew that one day I'd get one and be totally satisfied with it.

Of course, as an educated consumer, I've done a MOUNTAIN of research on it. From reading various message/user boards, mag reviews, auto shows, test drives, manuals...etc. I wanted to know all the good and bad points of ownership.

After hearing it all, I too realized that most folks will talk about problems before praise. Heck I do it too. I think what concerned me most, were problems that I've never heard or experienced on any other modern car. I mean mushrooming struts, engine fires, clogged fans (WTF)? Geez, you'd think I was buying a used 1985 Pontiac Fiero. But I digress.

You'll all be glad to know I'm going ahead with my purchse of the Mini and I'll let you know how it was and how the first days of driving will be.

 

Looking forward to your report!!!

 

You will have NO regrets. Now that you actually have the car (I assume) how 'bout posting a follow-up. How are you feeling now? Better? Worse? Same?

 

Do not make yourself crazy, most people suffer from buyer remorse it's normal. " Is this car practical, am I spending to much money?" and so on. We picked up our MCS last week, 5 1/2 days to be exact. My wife and I both have daily drivers and wanted a fun car which we would both enjoy. Boy did we pick the right car, we love our Mini, it's the most fun car I've ever driven. This car could very easily become my everyday car, it's loaded with emenities and is very, very easy to drive, and drive it does..........

 

Glad you went for it! Happy Motoring!

 

I have a related but different issue in that I'm having trouble pulling the trigger on my R53 purchase...have been driving a BMW 325i for 4 1/2 years and sad to say, am finding myself bored to tears with it. It's a BMW, I know...that should be impossible, right? Well I am here to say that it isn't.

I have been lusting after MINIs since they came back on the scene four years ago but just have never been able to justify the seeming impracticality to the Missus. Almost bought one two years ago (MCS PW/PW w/Tartan Red int. & web spokes), but again copped out at the last minute and leased another 3-series. Now I am just crawling the walls looking for a more spirited and less buttoned down ride.

MINIs suit my lifestyle pretty well..I've always leaned toward small cars, we have a small house, and I'm not for austentatious anything, really. Definitely anti-SUV. These are ideal commuter cars, not to mention grin-inducing twisty carvers. We have plenty of both around here (metro Washington DC). My wife has a Mazda6 wagon so even in the "eventual family" dept. we are covered. There is an excellent thread on NAM about a woman who wrestled with whether or not to give up her MC because she got pregnant. I spent an hour reading all those posts the other night and that information pretty much erased those concerns.

So...here I sit with a deposit sitting on an MCS SB/S with sport, prem, and HK sound & SG cloth> Really nice car...only things that are lacking are leather/leatherette even and the interior bling/chrome. Otherwise it's prety ideal and yet I still have cold feet. I drove it the other day, after not having really wrung out an MCS for two years, and it was AWESOME!!! Just couldn't believe!!

It has occurred to me that perhaps I am too attached to the "status" of owning a BMW, but then I think "what status" b/c every other person around here seems to own one that looks just like my 325i. There's the aspect of giving up the two extra doors and the trunk. though honestly I hardly use either and the backseat in an E46 3-series is pretty damn small!!

You all are a biased audience but I'd still love to hear if anyone else went through this and what your hangup was, and further how you got over it. My wife is also not crazy about this idea BTW, but that prob. has more to do with me spending the money to get the car.

--Bill W. a.k.a. -- "Eromitlab"

 

Yep, I'm biased....about a lot of things. Even so, I'm occasionally right.

If the MINI makes you happy, go for it. Regardless of the actual dollar amount you pay, if a car doesn't make you grin like an idiot every time you see it, you got ripped off.

The MINI stigma (if there even is one) doesn't affect me. I'm a pretty rugged individualist, and I drive a MINI in the backwoods of the North Georgia mountains....bright red with a Union Jack on the roof with white wheels...I couldn't care less whether the neighbors are impressed.

Rawhyde

PS My next car will be a 335i, but I'm keeping the MINI!

 

Believe me Rawhide, if I could do both, I probably would too. 300 hp is a far cry from 184...

It's one of those things where I thought perhaps the MINI appeal would wear off, but it's still going strong after four years.

--Eromitlab

 

I've driven Mercedes for over 15 years but when I test drove a 2002 MC on a whim. It became my everyday car...my fun car. It's the best decision that
I've made. I drive with my grandson in the backseat in his carseat. It's a very dependable car...at least mine is. Post pictures of your new Mini for us when you get it.